Running a business is no easy feat, and knowing where to begin can be even more challenging. Should you focus on developing the perfect product, or instead search for a lucrative market to sell to? Should you invest in your brand identity, or get right to knocking on doors? All of these questions and many more are faced by entrepreneurs on a daily basis.

That’s why we’re launching Shopify Academy: free, online training for ecommerce and retail entrepreneurs that takes the guesswork out of building a business.

Our mission is to bring you training from experienced entrepreneurs who have done it all before, both through success and failure. You’ll get access to advice, insights and behind-the-scenes stories from active store owners who are growing and scaling their businesses today.

Think of Shopify Academy as a carefully curated library for new and aspiring store owners who want to learn from expert practitioners. Along with joining a burgeoning community of like-minded entrepreneurs, Shopify Academy gives you access to:

On-demand courses

Get your business school training for free. Everything from business models to product validation strategies, generating traffic to converting customers. Shopify Academy’s on-demand courses range from beginner to advanced, ensuring we’re with you as you grow.

Live and recorded webinars

We invite industry experts and trusted entrepreneurs to share their stories and provide valuable insight for your business building journey. Concise, interactive, and shared with a community of motivated merchants, you’ll be a part of engaging discussions around timely topics.

Business tools and templates

Get the tools, templates, and proven frameworks entrepreneurs are using to successfully run their business. Shopify Academy is home to a handpicked collection of essential reading, spreadsheets, and scripts in our business template library—all of which you can use to jumpstart your business.

Courses you can access today

Course Preview: Turn Your Hobby into a Business

Learn how the Kular family transformed mom’s homemade recipe into an international brand and landed on the shelves of Whole Foods. For anyone that already has a product to sell, this course is for you. Start the course.

Course Preview: Dropshipping 101

Serial entrepreneur Corey Ferreira shows you how to find a profitable, in-demand product to sell, identify a target audience, and make your first sale with the dropshipping model. Start the course.

Course Preview: Getting Started with Shopify

Merchant Success Manager and entrepreneur Samantha Renée guides you through the Shopify setup process. At the end of the course, you’ll learn how Samantha made her first $10,000 in revenue without paid advertising. Start the course.

New courses coming soon

In the coming weeks, you’ll get access to new courses we’re developing including Instagram for Ecommerce and Product Photography. These courses, among others we’ll be producing will help you at every step of the journey, from establishing your vision, right through to optimizing your sales channels.

When you register for Shopify Academy, we’ll notify as soon as new courses become available. You’ll also be the first to know about upcoming webinars with special guests.

Join 446,005 entrepreneurs who already have a head start.

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You’ll start receiving free tips and resources soon. In the meantime, start building your store with a free 14-day trial of Shopify.

About the Author

Jonah leads the strategy and development of Shopify Academy. Working with a team of educators, producers and ecommerce and retail experts, the Shopify Academy team works to bring high-impact education to new and emerging entrepreneurs.